See complete list of FBISD candidates Page 2A
Skeeters to ring in a new season with sparkly bling. See the story on page 4B.
WEDNESDAY • APRIL 17, 2019
Jack’s Pub ALL YOU CAN EAT CRAWFISH
FOR $22 SUNDAY APRIL 21, 2019 FROM 3PM- 7PM
281-498-3410 11720 Wilcrest Houston, Tx. 77099
Rustika Rustika
Café & Bakery CaféSCHOOL & Bakery NOW OF LIL OPEN CHEFS NOW OPEN cookNext & bake a real bakery kitchen toinCorelli’s Italian CUSTOMto CAKES + PASTRIESItalian + COOKIES Next Corelli’s + COFFEE + SOUPS + SANDWICHES CUSTOM CAKES + PASTRIES + COOKIES + COFFEE + SOUPS + SANDWICHES
Rustikacafe.com
Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 43 • No. 35
Visit www.FortBendStar.com
County commissioner seeks jail diversion program By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Newly elected Fort Bend Precinct 4 County Commissioner Ken DeMerchant may be new on the leadership scene, but he is wasting no time trying to make his mark in Fort Bend County. State representative Ron Reynolds – whose District 27 represents portions of Sugar Land, Missouri City, Meadows Place and more – recently filed House Bill 3620 with the Texas
House of Representatives in conjunction with DeMerchant, whose precinct encompasses Missouri City, Stafford and Sugar Land. If passed, the legislation would create a Mental Health Treatment for Incarceration Diversion pilot program for Fort Bend County. According to data from the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly one in five adults in the U.S. – almost 47 million in 2017 – suffer from a form of mental illness, which can vary in degree of severity ranging from mild to moderate to severe. Approximately 20 percent
of inmates housed at the Fort Bend County Jail are incarcerated due to mental health issues. For DeMerchant, who formulated the beginnings of a plan to address mental health when touring the jail shortly after he was elected last year, such a volume is unacceptable. “I’m an engineer, and I just thought there had to be a better way to do this,” he said. DeMerchant then sought out consultation from Texana – a County Commissioner Ken DeMerchant speaks at Commissioner's Court. DeMerchant recently helped initiate House Bill 3620, which is now in the Texas House. (Submitted photo)
SEE COUNTY, PAGE 4A
Decisions, decisions
Mention this ad to get 50% OFF REGISTRATION FEE
3451 FM 1092 Rd. Missouri City, TX. 77459 832-539-6816 www.quailvalley.tlechildcare.com
Stafford mayoral race is heating up By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Leonard Scarcella has led Stafford on its winding journey for the last five decades. A.J. Honore is looking to take down a political giant. Scarcella, a lifelong resident and Stafford’s mayor since 1969, and Honore, a threeyear member of Stafford’s city council who has lived in Stafford for 33 years, will face off at the polls on May 4 in what could be a historic local election. During his 50 years in office, Scarcella has led Stafford through many evolutionary actions, such as abolishing the city property tax – making Stafford the largest city in Texas without one - and creating the Stafford Municipal School District, the only breakaway school district in the nation to gain federal court approval and the only municipal school district in Texas. He also helped plan and develop the Stafford Centre, a unique entertainment and cultural complex. “Mayor Scarcella is a leader of conviction and vision, with accomplishments though bold actions which have brought many impressive benefits for Stafford families and taxpayers,” his campaign website reads. However, Honore believes it’s time for change, citing decade-long flat city revenues, a drop in the general fund balance from $10 million to under $2 million last year, and a budget crisis he said puts the city’s zero property tax status at risk. “I respect and appreciate the 50 years of service from
SEE MAYOR, PAGE 4A
Allison Drew, a candidate for Position 5 on FBISD's Board of Trustees, addresses the public during a candidate forum last week while fellow candidates Christian Sommer (front right), Lily Lam, and Jason Dobrolecki look on. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann)
Congested FBISD ballot presents bevy of options By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
When Fort Bend residents make their way to the polls May 4, the sheer volume of Fort Bend ISD trustee candidates may seem like ballot overflow. Alas, it’s a bevy of candidates vying for the opportunity to represent Texas’ eighth-largest school district, all armed with their own ideas on how to serve the district’s 76,000 students in positions 3, 5, and 7. Three candidates have emerged to challenge incumbent Jim Rice for Position 3: Afshi Charania, Sam Popuri, and Ashish Agrawal. Ferrel Bonner, Dave Rosenthal, Monica Riley, Holland Paulsen, Nadine Skinner, Rudy Sutherland and Tina Michie have filed for the Position 7 chair. For the unmanned position
5, five candidates have thrown their hat in the ring: Christian Sommer, Vivian Lam, Jason Dobrolecki, Allison Drew, and Pam Sutherland. Candidates took part in a public forum at the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce last week. A moderator peppered them with questions about pressing issues such as standardized testing, methods of school funding, school choice/ use of vouchers, and more. Position 3 Agrawal believes now is the time to refresh the talent on the FBISD board with someone who can creatively tackle the series of challenges facing FBISD. His focuses are on board transparency, equity and excellence in how the board handles issues. Agrawal is an active leader or member of several resident committees for his homeowners association.
In all, 16 candidates are fighting for three FBISD school board positions. (Photo courtesy of Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce)
“When you vote for someone, you need to know that they are respected within the community,” he said. “If you live somewhere they respect you, it means you can represent for a broader spectrum like FBISD.” Rice, however, said FBISD
has shown the ability to grow and adapt, and that experience is necessary for continued evolution. “We’re always working toward that – that’s not a promise, it’s a fact,” he said. “I believe I have the skills and the knowledge and desire to see
our district continue to grow.” Charania said any decisions should exhibit common sense and that the interest of students should be a top priority. “I strongly believe that
SEE FBISD, PAGE 2A
Girl Scouts, shelter collaborate on new Reading Pals program By Donna Hill FOR THE FORT BEND STAR
Girl Scout Emma Nguyen reads to an eager four-legged listener at Sugar Land Animal Services. (Photo by Donna Hill)
Fort Bend County Girl Scout troops are starting a brand-new way to build empathy and improve reading skills. The new Reading Pals Program, is taking steps to help the animals at Sugar Land Animal Services helping shelter pets become more trusting of people at the same time, which ultimately helps area residents looking for a new family pet.
SOUTHWEST
FORT BEND’S TOP SELLING AGENTS
“It’s a pilot program we are doing with the Girl Scouts” says organizer, animal shelter and Girl Scout volunteer Susie Hyde. “There is a real transformation in the dogs’ behavior while the girls read to them.” Her idea started after realizing many residents in Fort Bend County weren’t aware of all services offered at Sugar Land Animal Services. The goal is to ultimately open the program, which is modeled after the Shelter Buddies Reading Program
at the Humane Society of Missouri in St. Louis, to the general public in Sugar Land. According to Hyde, helping to make the animals more social means they are more likely to be adopted. The program also teaches children empathy for animals and how to be responsible pet owners. “We tell the girls that they have a really important job when they are reading to
Outstanding Agents Outstanding Results
SEE SCOUTS, PAGE 3A
of 2 Best 017 FORT BEND STAR
Readers’ Choice
Each Office Independently Owned & Operated
Serving Your LOCAL Community for 30 YEARS
www.buysellsugarland.com • 281-491-1776